Jason (High Priest)

Jason's Tomb in the Rehavia neighborhood of Jerusalem Jason ( Hebrew : Yason, יסון ) of the Oniad family, brother to Onias III , was a High Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem . Jason became high priest in 175 BCE after the accession of Antiochus Epiphanes to the throne of the Seleucid Empire. In an ongoing dispute between Onias III and Simon the Benjaminite , Jason offered to pay Antiochus in order to be confirmed as the new High Priest in Jerusalem. Antiochus accepted the offer and further allowed Jason to build a gymnasium in Jerusalem and create a Greek-style Polis named after the king, Antioch . With the creation of Antioch, Jason abandoned the ordinances given under Antiochus III , which defined the polity of the Judeans according to the Torah. Jason's time as High Priest was brought to an abrupt end in 172 BCE when he sent Menelaus , the brother of Simon the Benjaminite, to deliver money to Antiochus. Menelaus took this opportunity to "outbid" Jason for the priesthood, resulting in Antiochus confirming Menelaus as the High Priest. Jason fled Jerusalem and found refuge in the land of the Ammonites. In 168 BCE Jason made an failed attempt to regain control of Jerusalem. Fleeing again to Ammon, he then continued to Egypt, then finally to Sparta, where he died and was buried 2 Maccabees 4:7-11 2 Maccabees 4:23-26 2 Maccabees 5:5-10

Jason ( Hebrew : Yason, יאסון ) of the Oniad family, brother to Onias III , was a High Priest in the Temple in Jerusalem . Josephus records that his name, before he hellenised it, was originally Jesus (Hebrew יֵשׁוּעַ Yēshua`). Jason became high priest in 175 BCE after the accession of Antiochus Epiphanes to the throne of the Seleucid Empire. In an ongoing dispute between the current High Priest, Onias III, and Simon the Benjamite , Jason offered to pay Antiochus in order to be confirmed as the new High Priest in Jerusalem. Antiochus accepted the offer and further allowed Jason to build a gymnasium in Jerusalem and create a Greek-style Polis named after the king, Antioch . With the creation of Antioch, Jason abandoned the ordinances given under Antiochus III , which defined the polity of the Judeans according to the Torah. Jason's time as High Priest was brought to an abrupt end in 172 BCE when he sent Menelaus , the brother of Simon the Benjamite, to deliver money to Antiochus. Menelaus took this opportunity to "outbid" Jason for the priesthood, resulting in Antiochus confirming Menelaus as the High Priest. Jason fled Jerusalem and found refuge in the land of the Ammonites. In 168 BCE Jason made a failed attempt to regain control of Jerusalem. Fleeing again to Ammon, he then continued to Egypt, then finally to Sparta, where he died and was buried Jewish Antiquities Book 12, chapter 5, §239 2 Maccabees 4:7-11 2 Maccabees 4:23-26 2 Maccabees 5:5-10

Jason ( Hebrew : Yason , יאסון) was the High Priest of Israel from around 175 BCE to 171 BCE during the Second Temple period of Judaism. He was of the Oniad family and was brother to Onias III , his predecessor as High Priest. Josephus records that his name was originally Jesus or Joshua (Hebrew יֵשׁוּעַ Yēshua`) before he changed it. Jason's tenure came during a turbulent period, and ancient sources such as the book of 2 Maccabees are hostile to him as a moderate Hellenizer, even if he was not as extreme as his successor. The new king of the Seleucid Empire which ruled Judea at the time, Antiochus IV Epiphanes , apparently started to auction off the position of High Priest to the highest bidder: whoever offered the most yearly tribute from the Temple in Jerusalem to the Seleucid government in Antioch could have it. It is unknown to what extent such corruption was simply an accusation by Jason's enemies and how much was real. Regardless, Jason apparently outbid his brother for the position in 175 BCE, and a newcomer named Menelaus outbid Jason in 171 BCE, resulting in his dismissal from the position. He later attempted to forcibly retake his old position in 168 BCE, but failed, and was forced into exile.

High Priest of Israel Jason ( Hebrew : Yason , יאסון ; Greek : Ἰάσων , Iásōn ) was the High Priest of Israel from around 175 to 171 B.C. during the Second Temple period of Judaism. He was of the Oniad family and was brother to Onias III , his predecessor as High Priest. Josephus records that his name was originally Jesus or Joshua (Hebrew יֵשׁוּעַ Yēshua`) before he changed it. Jason's tenure came during a turbulent period, and ancient sources such as the book of 2 Maccabees are hostile to him as a moderate Hellenizer, even if he was not as extreme as his successor. The new king of the Seleucid Empire which ruled Judea at the time, Antiochus IV Epiphanes , apparently started to auction off the position of High Priest to the highest bidder: whoever offered the most yearly tribute from the Temple in Jerusalem to the Seleucid government in Antioch could have it. It is unknown to what extent such corruption was simply an accusation by Jason's enemies and how much was real. Regardless, Jason apparently outbid his brother for the position in 175 BCE, and a newcomer named Menelaus outbid Jason in 171 BCE, resulting in his dismissal from the position. He later attempted to forcibly retake his old position in 168 BCE, but failed, and was forced into exile.